|
Chief Albert John Luthuli
The 2005 Protea
coin series depicts the honourable Chief Albert Luthuli,
the first South African to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Although
christened Albert John he preferred his Zulu name Mvumbi,
which means “continuous rain”. Chief Albert John Luthuli
was the leader of millions of black Africans in their non-violent campaign for
civil rights in South Africa.
He was a man of noble bearing, charitable, intolerant of hatred and adamant in
his demands for equality and peace amongst all men.
Supported by a mother who was determined that he got an education, Luthuli completed a teachers' course in 1917. On obtaining
a scholarship he completed the Higher Teachers' Training Course at Adams College.
In order to provide financial support for his mother, he declined a scholarship
to the University College at Fort
Hare, accepting an appointment at Adams, as one of two Africans to join the staff.
A professional educator for the next
fifteen years, Luthuli then, and afterwards,
contended that education should be made available to all Africans. In 1928 he
became Secretary of the African Teacher's Association and in 1933, its
President. As an adviser to the organized church, he became Chairman of the
South African Board of the Congregationalist Church of America, President of
the
Natal Mission Conference, and an Executive Member of the Christian Council of South Africa.
On 11 December 1961 Luthuli was awarded the 1960
Nobel Peace Prize in Norway,
Oslo. Luthuli, wearing a traditional chief's headdress, brought
the audience to their feet by singing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika at the end of
his acceptance speech. The next day he delighted students by throwing snowballs
at them from the city hall balcony.
Frail and with failing hearing, Luthuli was killed in his home village, Groutville,
by a train which he did not hear. He died on July 21, 1967 at the age of 69.
|
Face Value
|
Maximum mintage
|
Theme
|
|
R25 24 carat gold
|
5000
|
An older chief Luthuli in Groutville
|
|
R5 24 carat gold
|
1000
|
A younger chief Luthuli focusing on
education
|
|
R1 sterling silver
|
6000
|
Chief Luthuli and a famous quote from him
|
|
Proof set
|
1000
|
3 coin set
|
ARTIST
Natanya van Niekerk –
Marketing Manager and chief artist at the South African Mint has designed the
2004 Protea series.
ENGRAVERS
The obverse design for the three coins was engraved by the South African Mint’s
former chief die-engraver, AL Sutherland. N van Niekerk(R50&R1) and MJ Scheepers(R5) engraved the reverse for the 2004 Protea coins
|
